The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-04-29
A School Teachers Story

In the winter Of 1915. 1 was
teaching country school in Ohio,
not far from the village Of Medina.
l was a girl only II years old, and
weighed less than 100 pounds, and
those who knew NE would have
laughed at the idea Of my having
any presence CT mind IN the face Of
danger,
1t was walk of mile to the
! farm house where I was boarding.
aud in stormy weather 1 was con-
veyed to and fro in the sleigh. 1t
was clearly understood that sould it
come on to snow and blu ster during
the day the farmer was to come for
me al the close Of schosI' In or dina
~ weather the walk was one to be
enjoyed. Jnst after noon on the
13sh lay Of Janlary, it began to
snow and blow in the most furious
m nner, while the tempara ture fell
inside of two hours. We had a snug
br nol,e a large pile Of
= no one knew how
c5lI vs. uulil school was dismiss
el Cor TIA day. Then there were
many complaints from the scholars,
but all finally got away and l was
left alone to wait for the farmers
sleigh, which l had every reason to
believe would soon be at tbs door.
It was almost dark at 1 o'clocS,
and | got my things on and sat
down by the stove and waited three
quarters OF an hour before beginning
/ to wonder why Farmer Watkins
dld not drive up. We had a couple
oflamp=, and lighted one and be-
gan work on an intricate mathema-
teal pro blem. Time slipped fast
away, and when l got up, it was
half-past 3. l then felt that some
accident had happened my friend
and they would not come for me,
and I decide to foot it home. L
had not left the sehoolhouse q hun
bred feet behind when 1 realized
that I must return toIt. The wind
was blowing at the rate Of fifty
miles an houT, and directly in ny
face. while the air was so full Of
snow that one could not see six feet
away. That night the tlfermome-
ter registered II degrees below zero |
aud much live stock froze to death.
1t was a bit lonesome when 1 re-
turned to the school house and let
mysslf IN aud felt the little struc 'ure
trembling under the rising gale, but
l relighted the lamps, brought in a
lot of wood from the store room, and
found enough of my MONDAY meal
left in the basket to take the edge
Of my hunger off. I had no idea
of being Obliged to pass the night
there, but confidently expected to
be called tor at any moment. 1t had
come to be s clock, and l was
getting very nervous, when tue
outside door opened and l heard q
step in the hall. Ijumped up to
close the stove and turn out the
lights, but before 1 had accomplish
ed the latter object the door to the
schoolroom was op.ned and in walk
ed total stranger. He was cover
ed with snow, and his cap was
drawn down until most Of his face
vas hidden. He did not seem to
even glance at me, but advanced to
the stove, shook off the snow, pulled .
off cap and oyercoat, and then held !
out his hands TO the warmth. Ii
was what you might justly term
dumIounded. There was no fear Of
him, bat his unexpected advent and ,
the cool manner in which he acted /
quite took nv breath away for a
couple of minutes. Bowever, I fin
ally found voice to inquire:
Did Uncle Bill send you for me?'
He looked me in the eyes for a
few seconds, and then walked |
through to the outer door, locked it,
came back to the inner door and |
locked that, and as he slipped the
keys into his pocket, lie said;
This Is gong to be bitter cold !
night"
A fain;nesa came over me as he
spoke, IN | had to sit down. We
were on the opposite sides of the
stove, and I saw that ne was a man
OF about 30. medium height, slight
build, aud respectable appearance,
There was nothing about HIM of the
tramp or tough, and his voice was a
pleasant one. 1 was certain had
never seen him before, and / also
felt from The first that there WA
something wrong in his coming the
way he did. A belated or Storm
bound traveller would have been
full Of remarks and questions, anu
lie would not have locked the doo,s
on us lJuked him over like one
Nm u drelm. I lelt u creat fainlness